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HILE these pages are passing through the Press, a copy of the "University of Oxford Bill" is put into my hands. Its details do not affect the principles contended for in the preceding pages; but I observe with some dismay that the process of constitution-making and the consequent ferment is to be extended over more than seven years. It is probably by an oversight that in Clause 14 the Commissioners are not desired to have regard to the interests of education, as well as to those of religion, learning, and research; inasmuch as, further on, the interests of instruction at all events are abundantly cared for.

Several of the details are likely to be fought over,—some seem to be mutually inconsistent. The Bill does not supply the omissions before noted as observable in Lord Salisbury's speech; and though it strengthens, in some respects, the feeling of thankfulness that its operation is not to be more drastic, I do not expect a more careful study of it in the future will diminish the force of the objections I have urged to the principles it embodies. J. R. M. March 2, 1876.